Written Answers Thursday 2 March 2006

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify its funding policy in respect of organic farming.

Rhona Brankin: Our funding policy is, within the resources available, to support the development of a sustainable organic farming industry that makes a strong contribution to the management of Scotland’s agricultural land and water resources. The Organic Action Plan , which was published in 2003, sets out the several strands of our funding policy: support for farmers converting to and maintaining organic farming methods; support for marketing and processing of organic products; advisory support and provision of market information to organic farmers, and support for organic research and development.

Agriculture

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development last met officials from NFU Scotland and what matters were discussed.

Ross Finnie: I last met with officials of NFU Scotland on Thursday, 23 February 2006. We discussed a range of topics including food chain supply and competition issues, the burden of regulation on farmers, the prospects for re-opening beef export markets and Less Favoured Area support.

Air Services

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether residents of north-west Sutherland will be able to access discounted flights from Wick Airport.

Tavish Scott: The precise boundary of the eligible area within the Highland Council region will be defined in consultation with the council.

Air Services

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote direct flights to Germany from Scotland.

Tavish Scott: Three direct air links have already been established through investment from the Route Development Fund between Edinburgh and Cologne, Glasgow Prestwick and Niederrhein (Düsseldorf), and Glasgow Prestwick and Lübeck (Hamburg). A direct link between Glasgow International Airport and Berlin Schönefeld will commence in May 2006. Any approach by an airline to commence direct scheduled services from Scotland to German destinations not already served will be considered.

Air Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bids it has received for monies from the Route Development Fund since its inception, broken down into (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful bidders.

Tavish Scott: Since the inception of the Route Development Fund (RDF) by the Scottish Executive in November 2002, approximately 60 offers have been made to airlines to commence new routes with 47 new routes commenced or planned to commence up to summer 2006. The remaining offers were not taken up for reasons such as slot availability, aircraft availability and change of plans.

Airports

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public transport links there are between Scotland’s airports.

Tavish Scott: There are no direct bus or rail links between any of Scotland’s airports. Indirect links are, however, provided by a combination of bus and rail between Glasgow International, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow Prestwick, Inverness and Campbeltown Airports.

  Although there are no air services between the four main Scottish airports, there are links from Glasgow International, Edinburgh and Aberdeen Airports to the Highlands and Islands, and between airports in the Highlands and Islands.

Alcohol Misuse

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to meet the targets set to reduce alcohol consumption by adults and children.

Lewis Macdonald: We are investing nearly £12 million in each of 2005-06 and 2006-07 to fund alcohol-related prevention, allocation and treatment services. Under Delivering for Health, we will require every NHS board to show in their forward planning what they will do to reduce alcohol consumption in adults.

  We will also continue to support work focussed specifically on parents and children. At the same time, the new Licensing Act outlaws irresponsible drinks promotions and makes it a condition of both on and off licences that alcohol should not be supplied to young people without proof of age.

Avian Influenza

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to poultry farmers about avian flu.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive first published a Biosecurity Code of Practice aimed at all livestock keepers in November 2002. Since then additional biosecurity guidance has been developed in specific documents which have been published in the context of avian influenza. On 21 February the Executive published a document drawing this information together. In addition to being published on the Scottish Executive website and being made available to stakeholder groups, it has also been sent to poultry-keepers who have registered on the new Poultry Register.

Avian Influenza

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of an outbreak of avian flu, it will undertake an emergency vaccination programme to curb the spread of the virus in poultry flocks surrounding the affected area and what preparations it has made to facilitate such a programme.

Ross Finnie: In the event of an outbreak of avian flu in Scotland we would cull birds on infected premises with a view to eradicating disease quickly. If further measures to control and eradicate disease in Scotland were needed we would consider the role vaccination could play. Its use is not straightforward given that the vaccination does not provide complete immunity against infection and can make detection of infection more difficult. Additionally, vaccinated birds may continue to excrete virus which has implications for the control of an outbreak.

  Any decision will be based on veterinary and scientific advice and will take into account all relevant evidence relating to any proposed vaccination programme.

  As part of our preparedness work the Executive is working closely with other administrations to explore vaccination’s potential as a more developed disease control tool.

Better Neighbourhood Services Fund

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde from the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) in each year since 2000-01 and whether any specific amounts awarded to Inverclyde were designated for the regeneration of Port Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  (a) BNSF allocated to Renfrewshire is as follows:

  

 
 (£ Million)


 2001-02
 1.0


 2002-03
 1.5


 2003-04
 2.0


 2004-05
 1.5



  (b) BNSF allocated to Inverclyde is as follows:

  

 
 (£ Million)


 2001-02
 2.0


 2002-03
 3.0


 2003-04
 4.0


 2004-05
 3.0



  Information regarding the amount specifically designated to Port Glasgow cannot be determined accurately as Inverclyde’s BNSF programme was delivered on a thematic basis, mostly in social inclusion partnership areas, focusing on employability, neighbourhood services and health and drugs. Three specific target areas were identified for the neighbourhood services element of the programme and these included Robert Street in Port Glasgow.

Bridges

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the results of the Tolled Bridges Review.

Tavish Scott: The results of the Tolled Bridges Review were announced yesterday.

Building Standards

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what examples of international best practice in the energy performance of buildings it has (a) identified and (b) implemented to protect and enhance Scotland’s new environment, in line with paragraph 13b of International Strategy.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The development of building regulations is underpinned by current research findings and includes joint working with the other UK administrations. There is also regular liaison on regulatory best practice with the Consortium of European Building Control and the Inter-Jurisdictional Regulatory Collaboration Committee.

  On 1 March 2006, the Executive commenced public consultation on further amendments to energy standards, the principle aim of which is to reduce the CO2 emissions that occur as a result of energy usage in heated/cooled new buildings and existing ones that are being converted, altered or extended. A secondary objective is to cause designers of buildings to give consideration to the incorporation of building integrated low and zero carbon energy generating technologies, such as solar water heating and photovoltaics.

  The SBSA is presently working on the implementation of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings and how it impacts on the regulations. It is intended to issue a further consultation package on this in the near future.

Building Standards

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make it compulsory for new or replacement gas boilers to be condensing boilers.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The introduction of condensing gas boilers into Scottish building regulations is under consideration at present as part of a major review of energy standards. Proposals as a result of this review were issued for public consultation on 1 March 2006, with a view to amending regulations coming into force in spring 2007. The consultation can be accessed on www.sbsa.gov.uk.

Building Standards

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make it compulsory for new or replacement boilers to be condensing boilers.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The introduction of condensing gas boilers into Scottish building regulations is under consideration at present as part of a major review of energy standards. Proposals as a result of this review were issued for public consultation on 1 March 2006, with a view to amending regulations coming into force in spring 2007. The consultation can be accessed on www.sbsa.gov.uk.

Care of Elderly People

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle waiting lists for free personal and nursing care.

Lewis Macdonald: It is for local authorities to assess the community care needs of older people, and to meet those needs, including the provision of free personal and nursing care where appropriate.

  I am aware that a number of local authorities are operating waiting lists for personal and nursing care, and my officials are pursuing this matter with the councils in question.

  We will work with those councils to help them understand and address their responsibilities for the provision of care, and to ensure that older people are able to access the services to which they are entitled.

Children and Young People

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the First Minister what action across the relevant agencies is being considered to provide better protection for vulnerable young people and children.

Mr Jack McConnell: Additional actions include clear lines of accountability; proposals to introduce a duty on professionals for them to share information where this is required to protect children and young people and retraining front line professionals, including social workers in child protection.

  Ministerial colleagues wrote to health, police and local authorities in 2003 seeking assurances that the Chief Officers have reviewed child protection services in their area and were taking any necessary action to improve those services. We will be writing again within the next week to make further progress with the work that is being done locally on child protection, particularly in relation to children in substance misusing families.

Civil Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that its relocation decisions offer greater benefit to communities throughout Scotland.

George Lyon: To ensure relocation decisions offer greater benefit to communities throughout Scotland we are currently working with local authorities and enterprise companies to identify the local communities which would benefit from the policy. This local information, which includes data on available properties and sites for development, along with relevant data such as recent job losses and levels of public sector employment, will be used in future location reviews.

Communities

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much social inclusion partnership (SIP) funding has been allocated to (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde in each year since 1999-2000 and what proportion of the sum allocated to Inverclyde was specifically designated for the regeneration of Port Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  (a) SIP funding allocated to Renfrewshire (Paisley Partnership) is as follows:

  

 
£


 1999-2000 
 2,749,276


 2000-01 
 2,748,176


 2001-02 
 2,707,953


 2002-03 
 3,127,927


 2003-04 
 3,509,751


 2004-05 
 3,566,991



  (b) SIP funding allocated to Inverclyde (Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership) is as follows:

  

 
£


 1999-2000 
 2,991,245


 2000-01 
 2,423,735


 2001-02 
 2,546,173


 2002-03 
 2,464,011


 2003-04 
 2,919,446


 2004-05 
 3,958,903



  Information regarding the amount specifically designated to Port Glasgow cannot be determined accurately since most projects funded by the Partnership operated on an Inverclyde SIP-wide basis.

Communities

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from the Community Regeneration Fund has been allocated to (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde in 2005-06; how much will be allocated in 2006-07, and whether a specific amount of the money given to Inverclyde will be for the regeneration of Port Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  (a) The CRF allocations to Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership are as follows:

  

 
£


 2005-06
 4,527,000


 2006-07
 4,554,000



  (b) The CRF allocations to Inverclyde Community Planning Partnership are as follows:

  

 
£


 2005-06
 5,381,000


 2006-07
 4,881,000



  The allocation of CRF funding to projects is determined locally by the respective Partnerships. Expenditure plans are contained in the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Regeneration Outcome Agreements 2005-08.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how effective monitoring of concessionary travel will be carried out in the absence of an operational smart card system in order to ensure prompt and accurate reimbursement of bus operators and the prevention of fraudulent claims being made by any rogue operators.

Tavish Scott: Prior to the introduction of a fully smart system, Transport Scotland will use reimbursement and verification systems based on current best practice in local schemes, including data analysis, compliance system audits and surveys of bus services and passengers, to ensure that accurate and proper concessionary travel reimbursement is made in accordance with the provisions of The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Order 2006.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how the capping powers integral to the new concessionary travel scheme will operate in practice in order to prevent any misuse of the system by any rogue bus operators.

Tavish Scott: The financial cap which is a feature of the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people was introduced with the agreement of the Confederation for Passenger Transport to provide an enhanced level of budgetary prediction and security. The capping mechanism will be implemented by means of a graduated capping deflator if it appears that the cap will be exceeded in any financial year. Claims will be monitored monthly so that action can be taken in-year to smooth the effects if the cap is likely to be exceeded.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the understanding that operators will be reimbursed at the rate of £0.736 per pound of the average adult fare within the new concessionary travel scheme, how that average fare will be calculated given the number of different types of tickets available to bus passengers.

Tavish Scott: Reimbursement for the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled persons will be on the basis of adult single fare. An operator may determine that this can be calculated in one of three ways: the "shadow fare" forgone for the eligible journey as derived from the operator’s fare table; the average commercial fare for the service(s) concerned, and a survey derived fare for the service(s) concerned.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how often, and by what means, participant bus operators will be reimbursed under the new concessionary travel scheme.

Tavish Scott: There will be 13 payment periods at regular intervals in the financial year. Payment will be made by Bank Automated Clearing System transfer.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities exist to use concessionary travel data for wider transport planning purposes whilst simultaneously protecting the commercial interest of bus operators.

Tavish Scott: Commercially sensitive information will only be used specifically for the purpose of concessionary travel reimbursement. Transport Scotland will decide in due course whether non-commercially sensitive data can be used for the wider purpose of transport planning.

Concessionary Travel

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects rail travel within Scotland to be brought within the ambit of the concessionary travel scheme.

Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled persons delivers the Partnership Agreement commitment to a national free bus scheme. Local transport authorities will retain responsibility to offer local concessions on other forms of transport, including rail travel, at their discretion.

Dentistry

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the provision of NHS dentistry services in rural Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: We do not believe current provision of NHS dentistry is adequate throughout rural Scotland. That is why we have substantially increased the rewards for those dentists who continue to treat all categories of patients on the NHS, and we have supported health boards in providing NHS services directly through the appointment of salaried dentists.

Drug Misuse

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instigate a commission to investigate the impact on health of cannabis and other drugs.

Lewis Macdonald: The UK Department of Health has commissioned an evidence based review of research into cannabis and mental health issues, which is due to be completed in June 2006. The results will be considered alongside the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which published it’s own report on cannabis in January.

  All the evidence to date suggests that learning lessons on a UK-wide basis will continue to deliver the greatest benefits in identifying the impact of cannabis on health.

Economic Development

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote economic development in Ayrshire.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive’s Framework for Economic Development  in Scotland (FEDS) outlines our approach to growing the economy, in Ayrshire as elsewhere. In line with this, we are investing in infrastructure, education and enterprise throughout Ayrshire.

  Our recently published People and Places: Regeneration Policy Statement identifies Ayrshire as a regional priority. It provides a clear commitment to unlocking the area’s potential through maximising the impact from public sector investment and providing the impetus for increased private sector activity.

Emergency Services

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many petitions it has received from Orkney opposing the proposed withdrawal of the Kirkwall-based BN Islander air ambulance; which particular areas of Orkney the petitions have come from, and how many signatures in total are on the petitions.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has received two petitions about this issue – one from North Ronaldsay which has 59 signatures, and one from Westray which has 287 signatures.

Employment

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people took up employment in its main departments in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005 under the New Deal.

Mr Tom McCabe: The number of people who took up employment under a New Deal programme in a Scottish Executive core department in each of the years requested is shown in the following table.

  

 Year
 No. of People


 2003
 34


 2004
 30


 2005
 15

Employment

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people gained permanent employment in its main departments in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005 following a period of employment with it under one of the New Deal programmes.

Mr Tom McCabe: The number of people who gained permanent employment following a period of employment under a New Deal programme in Scottish Executive core departments in each of the years requested is shown in the following table.

  

Year
No. of People


2003
16


2004
3


2005
1

Environment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 are intended to help reduce the culverting and covering over of streams.

Rhona Brankin: The 2005 regulations do not specifically aim to reduce or increase any activity. Instead, the regulations adopt a risk-based and proportionate approach to the regulation of all activities which impact on the water environment.

  In relation to the culverting and covering over of streams, the regulations aim to ensure that the environmental impacts caused by these activities are given due consideration in the design, construction and maintenance of the structure, and will ensure that best practice is adopted.

Environment

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans its Environment and Rural Affairs Department has to ensure that an environmental impact assessment is undertaken of the proposed Rolls-Royce aero engine test bed site at East Kilbride and to monitor its impact subsequently.

Ross Finnie: Consideration of individual planning applications, together with the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is a matter, in the first instance, for the planning authority concerned, in this case South Lanarkshire Council. I understand that South Lanarkshire Council commissioned a screening report which concluded that this application did not require to be the subject of an EIA.

  Following consideration of this application South Lanarkshire Council indicated, on 28 February, that it is minded to grant planning permission. But before doing so the council will notify the application to Scottish ministers for their consideration. As part of their consideration, ministers will also look into the question of whether an EIA is required in this case.

Environment

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures exist for monitoring radiation levels in Dumfries and Galloway.

Ross Finnie: Environmental monitoring for radioactivity is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The results of this monitoring are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment reports (RIFE). Copies of the RIFE report for 2004 is on the SEPA website http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/publications/rife/rife10.pdf .

Equal Opportunities

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive and its departments and agencies are working to secure gender equality in Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: We are taking a range of actions to secure greater equality of opportunity in Scotland including:

  expanding child care to meet the needs of both children and parents;

  assisting women wanting to work or enter higher or further education;

  tackling Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women, with new services and better legal protection, and

  improvements in training and other practical measures.

European Council

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in which European Council meetings its ministers have led the UK delegation since May 1999, broken down by (a) minister, (b) subject discussed and (c) decisions taken.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following table provides the information requested:

  

 Date, Council and Lead Minister
 Subjects Discussed
 Decisions Taken


8-06-2000: Education Council: Nicol Stephen
 1. The future challenges and training objectives of education systems in the learning society.
 1. To establish the European Year of Languages 2001.


 2. Report of education ministers to the Stockholm European Council in spring 2001.
 2. That education and training policies would play a key part in follow up of Lisbon European Council.


 3. The e-learning initiative.
 3. Need for education ministers to feed into the Luxembourg Employment Process.


 Also Considered:
 


 4. Quality indicators and evaluation in school education.
 


 5. Recommendation on Mobility within the Community.
 


12-02-2001: Employment and Youth Council: Nicol Stephen
 1. Strategies for lifelong learning.
 To adopt a report on the concrete future objectives of education and training systems, and to discuss the work programme arising from the report at the next Education Council meeting. 


 Also considered:


 2. Community Action Programme.


 3. Leonardo da Vinci.


 4. European Year of Languages 2001.


 5.Trans-European co-operation scheme for higher education.


5-06-2001: Health Council: Susan Deacon
 1. The EU public health framework programme.
 To include certain rare diseases in the scope of the public health framework programme, and to call on member states to build on existing work on surveillance and prevention of all Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies as they affect human health.


 2. Misuse of alcohol by children and young people.


 3. Proposals for a tobacco Advertising Directive.


 4. Research and information exchange on vCJD.

Fisheries

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with other agencies to ensure that skills and training in the fishing sector are maintained.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive works closely with Lantra, Improve and the Sea Fish Industry Authority to help maintain and develop the skills and training agenda in the fishing sector. These organisations receive Government funding to engage with employers to identify skills gaps and shortages within the fishing sector and act as a broker between them, higher education and further education institutions and other training and qualifications providers to develop fit for purpose qualifications and courses.

Fuel Poverty

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households would return to fuel poverty as a result of a 25% increase in the price of gas.

Malcolm Chisholm: The 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) is currently the most up-to-date source of information on fuel poverty in Scotland. It does not permit us to establish how many households would return to fuel poverty as a result of a 25% increase in the price of gas as the survey is not longitudinal in design and does not therefore track households over an extended period.

  However, analysis of the 2002 SHCS data shows that, had mains gas prices been 25% higher in 2002-03, an additional 64,000 households would have been in fuel poverty.

Fuel Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why, for the purposes of calculating the number of households in fuel poverty, households with children under five are no longer considered by the Scottish Household Survey to require a higher heating regime.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish House Condition Survey used the definitions of satisfactory heating used in the Fuel Poverty Statement.

Fuel Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of the 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey, how many households with children under five would be considered to be in fuel poverty if (a) the higher heating regime defined in the 1996 survey report was applied and (b) fuel prices rose by (i) 5%, (ii) 10%, (iii) 15%, (iv) 20% and (v) 25%.

Malcolm Chisholm: If the higher heating regime used in the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey report had been used to calculate fuel poverty for the 2002 report the number of households with children under five considered to be in fuel poverty would be 11,000. The effects on this figure of additional fuel cost increases of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% are demonstrated in table 1.

  Table 1: Effect Of Inclusion of Under Five Heating Regime and Additional Costs on Number and % of Households with Children Under Five in Fuel Poverty

  

 
 Number of Households with Children Under Five in Fuel Poverty
 % of Households with Children Under Five in Fuel Poverty


 2002 Fuel Poverty Statement (FPS) Heating regime
 9,000
 4


 FPS regime with under 5 heating regime
 11,000
 5


 FPS regime with under 5 heating regime and fuel costs increased by 5%
 12,000
 5


 FPS regime with under 5 heating regime and fuel costs increased by 10%
 16,000
 7


 FPS regime with under 5 heating regime and fuel costs increased by 15%
 18,000
 8


 FPS regime with under 5 heating regime and fuel costs increased by 20%
 20,000
 9


 FPS regime with under 5 heating regime and fuel costs increased by 25%
 23,000
 10

Fuel Poverty

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of the 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey, how many households would be considered to be in fuel poverty if council tax benefit was not included in the calculation of income.

Malcolm Chisholm: Analysis of the 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey shows that, in 2002-03, 305,000 households would be considered as being in fuel poverty if council tax benefit was not included in the calculation of income. That is an additional 19,000 households by comparison with the figure of 286,000 households when council tax benefit is included.

Fuel Prices

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what new plans it has to address poverty, in light of the recent 22% increase in fuel prices by Scottish Gas.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have already said that I plan to extend current fuel poverty programmes beyond 2006. I will be announcing details of these plans shortly.

  I have written to the major energy companies expressing my concern at the impact recent price rises will have on vulnerable customers and seeking assurances that appropriate measures are being taken to protect these households.

Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what criteria the locations of the proposed health care pilots were determined.

Mr Andy Kerr: There will be five pilots in the first phase of Prevention 2010 – our programme to tackle health inequalities by enhancing primary care in deprived areas - two in Greater Glasgow, and one each in Lothian, Lanarkshire and Tayside. We used the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation to identify areas with the highest numbers of data zones in the most deprived 15%. We plan a second phase of pilots next year, when we will target more areas with high levels of deprivation. The approach will be extended to all those at risk through deprivation once we know what works best.

Health

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a shortage of neo-natal nurses and, if so, what plans it has to increase recruitment.

Lewis Macdonald: We are on track to achieve the Partnership Agreement target of attracting 12,000 nurses and midwives into NHSScotland by 2007. This target is associated with all qualified nurses and midwives, including neonatal nurses. Information on neonatal nurses is not collected separately.

  The Scottish Executive published the National Workforce Planning Framework 2005 in August 2005 which sets out a workforce planning cycle at national, regional and NHS board level. This planning cycle allows for a bottom up evidence based approach to future staffing numbers across all staff groups, including nurses and midwives. Workforce forecasts contained within NHS board workforce plans will help inform national decisions on future training numbers and supply.

  A Paediatric and Neonatal Nursing subgroup of the Nursing and Midwifery Workload and Workforce Planning Steering Group has been established to consider appropriate workload measurement tools to be piloted across NHSScotland. This will assist with overall action for workforce planning purposes.

Health

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage career development for staff involved in the nursing of babies requiring intensive or special care by improving entry and professional development training and reviewing current gradings.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring that professionals in the NHS have the necessary experience, skills and competencies to provide skilled care. We are determined to ensure a clear career structure which places nurses and midwives at the centre of neonatal care. To this end we are funding 18 nurses and midwives to complete the two year advanced neonatal nurse practitioner course.

  Health boards, as NHS employers, are required by the mandatory Staff Governance Standard to ensure that all their staff, which includes their nursing and midwifery staff, are appropriately trained for the environment they work in. The Staff Governance Standard is monitored by the Scottish Partnership Forum and in that way the performance of each individual health board is monitored.

Health

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all intensive and special care baby units, broken down by NHS board, and what the ratio of nurses to babies is in both types of unit.

Lewis Macdonald: Below is a list of each of the intensive care baby units by NHS board area. Information supplied to ISD Scotland does not differentiate between the different types of care (i.e. Intensive care, special care and high dependency care).

  

 Health Board
 Location


 Ayrshire and Arran
 Ayrshire Central Hospital


 Borders
 Borders General Hospital


 Argyll and Clyde
 Royal Alexandra Hospital


 Fife
 Forth Park Hospital


 Greater Glasgow
 Queen Mother’s Hospital


 Southern General Hospital


 The Princess Royal Maternity Unit


 Highland
 Raigmore Hospital


 Lanarkshire
 Wishaw General Hospital


 Grampian
 Aberdeen Maternity Hospital


 Lothian
 Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion


 St John’s Hospital At Howden


 Tayside
 Ninewells Hospital


 Forth Valley
 Stirling Royal Infirmary


 Dumfries and Galloway
 Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary



  The information regarding the ratio of nurses to babies is not held centrally. This is a matter for individual NHS boards.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what circumstances caused the shutdown of the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh.

Mr Andy Kerr: There is a statutory requirement for pharmaceutical producers to be inspected by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) within a two year period. In 2004 MHRA highlighted a need to upgrade systems and procedures at the Protein Fractionation Centre (PFC) to ensure continued compliance with current EU Good Manufacturing Practice regulations, and follow-up action was taken to implement improvements. An inspection by MHRA in January identified further areas where improvement is needed. As a result PFC has suspended the production of plasma products to allow the development and introduction of these upgrades.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what risks to the safe production of products have been identified at the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh.

Mr Andy Kerr: An inspection by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in January 2006 identified a need to upgrade systems and procedures at the Protein Fractionation Centre (PFC), and action is being taken forward to implement these upgrades. Risk assessments on products manufactured by PFC have been carried out and communicated to the MHRA. These assessments have not identified any significant risks to product safety.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what will happen to the products produced in the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh in the period preceding the shutdown of the plant.

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether products issued by the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh at a time when production conditions were considered to be unacceptable will be administered to patients.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service are continuing to issue products from the Protein Fractionation Centre in consultation with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any products produced in the Protein Fractionation Centre in Edinburgh have been recalled.

Mr Andy Kerr: There has been no recall of products from the Protein Fractionation Centre (PFC) following the recent Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) inspection.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have undergone cardiac resynchronisation therapy procedures in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is aware of in respect of the impact of cardiac resynchronisation therapy for patients with heart failure in terms of prognosis and reductions in hospital admissions.

Mr Andy Kerr: A range of evidence has been amassed from randomised controlled trails such as MADIT II and the COMPANION fed into an Evidence Note which was published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in November 2005. The Evidence Note sets outs the benefits of cardiac resynchronisation therapy for heart failure which include: a reduction in mortality, hospital admissions and improved quality of life. A copy of the Evidence Note can be found at:

  www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/qis_display_findings.jsp?pContentID=2771&p_applic=CCC&pElementID=0&pMenuId=0&p_service=Content.show&.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make cardiac resynchronisation therapy available to all patients who need it.

Mr Andy Kerr: The National Advisory Committee on Coronary Heart Disease has prepared a report on electrophysiology, which includes cardiac resynchronisation therapy and the recommendations in the report have been costed. Regional planning groups have been asked to take forward the introduction of cardiac resynchronisation therapy using this report as a basis.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16922 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 June 2005, what progress is being made with the catheter-associated urinary tract infection surveillance programme and when the first report from this programme will be published.

Mr Andy Kerr: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) published a report from the Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) surveillance programme in June 2005. This is available on the HPS website:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/infectious/hai/SSHAIP/pdf/CAUTI%20Annual%20Report%20June%2005.pdf.

  Participation in the CAUTI surveillance programme is voluntary and not all NHS boards have participated. Therefore, the report does not provide full data on CAUTIs in Scotland.

  The Scottish Executive Health Department has commissioned HPS to conduct a national survey on the prevalence and burden of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). As part of this, data on health care-associated UTIs will be collected across Scotland. The prevalence survey is due to report in 2007.

  A best practice statement on urinary catheterisation and catheter care, developed by the HAI Task Force, was published by Quality Improvement Scotland in June 2004.

Higher Education

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the current revenue funding to universities adequately reflects the costs of operating multi-campus operations such as the Crichton in Dumfries.

Allan Wilson: Responsibility for decisions on the funding of individual higher education institutions lies with the funding council. The present system of current revenue funding is designed to allow the greatest financial flexibility to funded institutions who then make their own decisions on the allocation of funds and places.

  However, we recognise that there are concerns about how the costs of delivery are reflected in the present system. Ministers have therefore asked the funding council to take forward as a priority a review of its funding methodology. The aim of the review is to develop an approach to funding provision by colleges and universities which is related as closely as possible to the actual costs of delivery. The review will be undertaken in partnership with colleges and universities and we have asked the council to ensure that the outcomes enable local provision involving more than one institution.

Immigration

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22816 by Mr Tom McCabe on 21 February 2006, whether it will detail the specific measures it is taking to attract each of the following categories: (a) international students, (b) those looking for employment, (c) entrepreneurs interested in setting up businesses, (d) Scots living outwith Scotland who may consider returning to Scotland and (e) businesses who might benefit from the recruitment of workers from outwith Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent initiative has already made considerable progress in seeking to attract bright, talented and hard-working individuals to come and live, work and study in Scotland. We have established a Relocation Advisory Service to act as a one-stop stop offering advice to individuals interested in relocating to Scotland. For students, we have introduced a number of strands of activity. These include the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, Scottish International Scholarship Programme Fresh Talent: Supporting International Students Challenge Fund, and funding for the DARE to be Digital and Encouraging Dynamic Global Entrepreneurs (EDGE) programmes. We have recently expanded the Relocation Advisory Service, through the secondment of a Senior Business Development Executive from Scottish Enterprise, to develop advice and support for businesses who might benefit from the recruitment of workers from outwith Scotland. We are in the process of undertaking a number of activities to raise the profile of Fresh Talent with the business community including a series of business briefings run in conjunction with the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. Finally, our Diaspora Strategy aims to encourage the diaspora’s active participation and engagement in promoting Scotland as a great country to visit, live, learn, work, do business and invest, as well as considering returning to Scotland themselves.

Immigration

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22816 by Mr Tom McCabe on 21 February 2006 whether it will detail the specific measures it is taking to ensure that visas are issued for applicants in each of the following categories: (a) international students, (b) those looking for employment, (c) entrepreneurs interested in setting up businesses, (d) Scots living outwith Scotland who may consider returning to Scotland and (e) businesses who might benefit from the recruitment of workers from outwith Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: Immigration issues, including the issuing of visas and work permits, are a matter for the Home Office and UKVisas. However, the Relocation Advisory Service, which was set up as part of the Fresh Talent initiative, includes immigration experts who are able to offer advice on immigration requirements to those seeking to relocate to Scotland. We have also produced a business toolkit for Scottish businesses to help them understand the visa and work permit process, which should assist them in making applications.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding the Rule of 85 in the Local Government Pension Scheme during the period since the Commission made it clear that the actions proposed by the Executive on the rule were not as a result of decisions of the European Union.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has been in touch with the Commission through UK authorities to make clear its view, based on legal advice, that the Rule of 85 is not compatible with the age provisions of the Equal Treatment directive. The Scottish Executive is not aware that the reported comments of the Commission have addressed that precise point.

Maritime Issues

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will play in the issue of ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth following any decision by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to approve Forth Ports Authority’s oil spill contingency plan.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive will maintain contact with Her Majesty’s Government on any legislative and policy matters arising from any such ship-to-ship oil transfers.

NHS 24

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-22512 and S2W-22508 by Mr Andy Kerr on 1 February 2006, whether it will confirm that there is no clinical basis for the special arrangements between the First Minister’s residence and NHS 24.

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-22512 and S2W-22508 by Mr Andy Kerr on 1 February 2006, why special arrangements between the First Minister’s residence and NHS 24 are necessary to achieve confidentiality, consistency and appropriate medical care and whether it considers that this would not be achievable if there were no such special arrangements.

Mr Andy Kerr: The arrangements are entirely concerned with supporting access to clinical advice and to an assessment process that will help determine the medical attention most appropriate to the needs of the individual. NHS 24 put in place this standard process in the interests of confidentiality and consistency.

NHS Staff

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of senior staff in NHS Western Isles are currently suffering from stress-related illnesses, are on long term sick leave or are involved in grievance procedures and how these figures compare with the average percentages for each category in the other NHS boards.

Mr Andy Kerr: These are matters for the board and information is not held centrally. However, national records do show that that the sickness absence rate for all absence in 2004-05 for NHS Western Isles was 4.87%, well below the national average of 5.35%.

  The chairman of the board and his directors are keeping the Health Department in close touch with the board’s financial plan and overall redesign of services. These changes should enable the board to modernise services in line with the direction and actions set out in Delivering for Health, improve career opportunities for staff and overall provide better patient care.

NHS Staff

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the previous agreed target deadlines for completion of Agenda for Change were and what the reasons are for each specific delay.

Mr Andy Kerr: An original target date of end September 2005 for the assimilation of staff onto the new Agenda for Change paybands was set in partnership with trades unions and professional organisations as part of the overall UK Agenda for Change agreement. It soon became evident that this target was overly ambitious for all UK health services, who subsequently set their own timeframes for full implementation.

  Agenda for Change is being implemented in partnership in NHSScotland, and significant progress has been made. Over 85% of posts which have been submitted to matching panels have been matched against national profiles. Around 53,000 staff in the nursing, midwifery, ancillary and allied health professionals staff groups have been approved for assimilation. In January, the first groups of staff were paid on the new Agenda for Change paybands.

  A plan for 2006, which health boards are committed to delivering, has been drawn up and agreed in partnership. Based on the plan it is anticipated that Agenda for Change will be introduced and operational by the end of 2006.

  The Pay Modernisation Team, alongside the Scottish Executive Health Department, will monitor progress towards the plan for 2006, providing health boards with support and advice as necessary.

NHS Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking, or has asked the NHS to take, to support staff and keep them informed during the job evaluation aspect of the Agenda for Change.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is the responsibility of individual health boards to support staff during the implementation of Agenda for Change, and to keep them up to date with progress.

  Health boards are achieving this in a number of ways, such as presentations with Q & A, drop in sessions, poster campaigns, updates in staff newsletters and regularly updated internet and intranet sites. Staff will be notified individually as to the outcome of job matching/local evaluation in their particular case, and will be advised and supported should they seek a review of that outcome.

  Developments with Agenda for Change at a national level are intimated to health boards by way of bulletins from the Scottish Pay Reference and Implementation Group (SPRIG), who are the partnership body overseeing implementation of Agenda for Change in NHSScotland.

NHS Waiting Times

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits patients in Edinburgh can expect from the most recent announcement on NHS waiting times.

Mr Andy Kerr: Patients in Edinburgh - and indeed across Scotland - are already receiving significant benefits as a result of our policies to improve access and drive down waiting times. The national maximum waiting times for first out-patient consultations and for hospital inpatient and day case treatment are now six months – the lowest ever level.

  Further improvements will be evident as the NHS in Scotland makes progress towards delivery of our commitment to reduce these maximum waiting times to 18 weeks by the end of 2007.

NHS Waiting Times

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address any issues in respect of increased waiting times to see epilepsy specialists resulting from a review of epilepsy patients as recommended in the new General Medical Services contracts.

Lewis Macdonald: We understand the importance for patients of getting prompt access to specialist advice. Through re-design initiatives, we wish to see staff such as specialist nurses deployed to deal with follow-up treatment, in order to allow consultant neurologists to have more time to see new patients.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-departmental public bodies (NDBPs) it has set up in each year since 1999, listing each such NDBP.

Mr Tom McCabe: A list of new NDPBs set up since 1999 is provided below:

  

 Non-Departmental Public Body
 Year Established


 Criminal Review Cases Commission
 1999


 Scottish Ambulance Service Board
 1999


 NHS 24
 2001


 Scottish Social Services Council
 2001


 Bord Gaidhlihg na h-alba
 2002


 Bus Users Complaints Tribunal 
 2002


 Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
 2002


 Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland
 2002


 National Waiting Times Board 
 2002


 Scottish Commission on the Regulation of Care
 2002


 Cairngorms National Pak Authority
 2003


 Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland
 2003


 Risk Management Authority 
 2003


 Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland
 2005


 Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland
 2005


 Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee
 2005


 Scottish University for Industry 
 2005

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive where the headquarters of each non-departmental public body (NDPB) set up since 1999 have been located, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information on the location of NDPB headquarters is provided on the public bodies and appointments pages of the Scottish Executive website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total budgets of all non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have been in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Tom McCabe: Financial information on all NDPBs is provided on the public bodies and appointment pages of the Scottish Executive website. Prior to the website’s establishment, financial information was published in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies. Copies of these documents are available at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/index.asp .

Nuclear Power

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the First Minister whether there are any plans to review the Scottish Executive’s policy on nuclear power.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Executive policy remains, as set out in the document A Partnership for a better Scotland : we will not support the development of new nuclear power stations while waste management issues remain unresolved.

Older People

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals there are to enhance or improve the financial and social circumstances of older people living in poverty in (a) West Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is tackling pensioner poverty in Scotland in partnership with the UK Government.

  Measures by the UK Government to reduce the proportion of older people on low incomes include Pension Credit, Council Tax and Housing Benefit, the Winter Fuel Payment, the £200 Council Tax refund, and free TV licences. The Executive is taking a number of actions including our central heating programme, free local off-peak bus travel (extending to a national scheme), and free personal and nursing care.

People with Disabilities

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities make provision for mobility training.

Tavish Scott: We do not hold such information centrally. However, the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) which advises ministers on the transport needs of disabled people across Scotland, have produced extensive disability awareness guidance for organisations such as transport operators and local authorities, so that they are able to assist disabled travellers.

People with Disabilities

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities provide escorts for elderly and infirm people wishing to access public transport.

Tavish Scott: We do not hold this information centrally. However, the Executive is committed to enabling access by disabled people to public transport. Research has been commissioned to examine how to improve transport for disabled people. This will include an assessment of the importance of improved public transport concessions for disabled people but will go beyond that to include wider issues than just affordability. This research project is expected to be completed in April 2006.

Poverty

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people or households in Glasgow are officially designated to be living in (a) income poverty and (b) fuel poverty.

Malcolm Chisholm: (a) The information requested is not available.

  The official source of low income data for Scotland is the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) dataset available from 1994-95. This is derived from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The sample size of the FRS in Scotland is relatively small and can only be used to provide information for Scotland as a whole.

  The following link provides the latest low income headline figures for Scotland (2003-04), together with data for previous years. This was published on 30 March 2005:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/03/29170611/06123.

  (b) The 2002 Scottish House Condition Survey Local Authority report estimates that approx. 45 000 households in Glasgow are considered as being in fuel poverty.

Prime Minister

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister and what issues they will discuss.

Mr Jack McConnell: : I saw the Prime Minister last week in Aviemore and I hope to meet him again soon.

Public Sector

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the next spending review.

Mr Tom McCabe: The next three-year spending review will take place in 2007 in line with the UK Spending Review. We are undertaking preparatory work to take a fresh look at the policy framework and its implications for resources in the years ahead.

  This work will help us to:

  Identify the key trends to 2011 and beyond, and how best to respond;

  Consider policy priorities in the light of these trends;

  Assess the effectiveness of existing policies and what has been achieved so far, and

  Ensure future spending is clearly based on these priorities.

  This will provide a robust basis for our spending review in 2007.

Rail Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans have been made to extend any concessionary travel by air from Caithness to include concessionary travel by rail from Wick, Thurso and other stations on the Far North Line.

Tavish Scott: The aid of a social character scheme, which I announced on 13 February and which offers eligible residents reductions on some air fares, applies only to air travel. We have no plans to extend the scheme to rail.

Rail Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the usage of trains from Caithness stations will be monitored following any introduction of concessionary air fares from Wick airport.

Tavish Scott: First ScotRail is obliged under its franchise contract to provide patronage data to Transport Scotland. Transport Scotland is currently in discussions with First ScotRail to identify improvements in the efficiency of patronage monitoring, including options for automation of the process.

  In addition arrangements will be put in place which will monitor the impact of the aid of a social character scheme on other transport modes.

Regional Selective Assistance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it an appropriate use of public funds to award HSBC a grant worth £1 million under the regional selective assistance scheme, in light of the size of the company’s net income.

Allan Wilson: Yes. regional selective assistance (RSA) can be used to support businesses of all sizes provided projects satisfy the criteria of the scheme. The criteria include demonstrating the need for assistance to make the project happen in an assisted area rather than elsewhere or not at all. An increasing number of companies, particularly those with a variety of existing overseas facilities, have a credible choice of location for their projects. In such cases we carefully consider the arguments used and satisfy ourselves that there are indeed genuine alternative locations.

Registers of Scotland

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to reach a decision concerning the future location of the head office of Registers of Scotland.

Johann Lamont: We will make our decision on Registers of Scotland’s relocation review as soon as possible.

Registers of Scotland

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 7 April 2005, what progress has been made in the relocation of Registers of Scotland.

George Lyon: Registers of Scotland have completed Stage 2 of their Location Review which is currently with Relocation Ministers for their consideration.

Renewable Energy

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to cultivate a biomass industry in Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: As the member may be aware, I announced on the 26 January 2006 in my ministerial statement on forestry, that officials will be working to prepare a Biomass Action Plan, and that the forthcoming Climate Change Programme will include an ambitious emissions savings target for the whole of the forestry sector.

  As a member of the Environment and Rural Development Committee the member will be aware that I will be giving evidence to the committee’s inquiry on biomass on 8 March 2006. I will be giving more details of our future work then.

Roads

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the local public inquiry into the proposals to upgrade the A80 will be presented to ministers and be available to the general public.

Tavish Scott: The report of the public local inquiry into the proposals to upgrade the A80 has recently been received from the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit. The reporter’s findings are now being assessed and every effort will be made to reach an early decision.

  Once that decision has been made, both the report and the decision letter will be made available to all interested parties.

Roads

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the design of the footbridge at Harthill service station.

Tavish Scott: Consultants have prepared several design options with cost estimates for the new footbridge. Their report was received yesterday in Transport Scotland and I will consider how this should be taken forward after receiving my engineer’s advice.

Roads

Mr Andrew Arbuckle (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to enforce existing legislation on roadside litter.

Tavish Scott: Responsibility for the enforcement of anti-littering procedures and the clearance of litter from all roadsides, apart from motorways and special roads, lies with the relevant local authority. The Scottish Executive has provided £3.6 million over this and the next two financial years to support local authority litter and fly-tipping enforcement procedures. This is in addition to the funding provided by the Executive through the Quality of Life initiative.

  In the case of motorways and special roads, the trunk road operating companies are contractually obliged to clear litter in accordance with the standards laid down in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the associated Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment its Environment and Rural Affairs Department has carried out of the climate change implications of building the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Ross Finnie: Transport Scotland shared its analysis of the carbon dioxide emissions associated with options for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route with my department. The preferred route, announced in December, was assessed as resulting in lower increases in greenhouse gas emissions than the route inherited from the councils.

Scottish Executive Cabinet

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Scottish Executive’s cabinet.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Cabinet will discuss issues of importance to Scotland.

Scottish Executive Travel

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times special advisers have travelled (a) in the UK and (b) abroad since 1999 and how many of these visits took place without a minister being present, broken down by place of visit and cost.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to answer to question S2W-18239 on 26 August 2005 and the corrected answer to question S2W-13347 on 13 June 2005. For the period between 1 April and 31 December 2005 Scottish Executive special advisers made 80 journeys within the UK and 11 journeys abroad in an official capacity. Details of these journeys are provided in the following table. Where dates in column 1 of the table are marked with an asterisk, this indicates that a minister was not present on the visit recorded.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  

 Period
 Place Visited in UK
 Cost
 Place Visited Abroad
 Cost


 (£)
 (£)


 1
 2
 3
 4
 5


 31-03-05-06-04-05
 
 
 New York and Washington, USA
£3,106.04


 06/04/2005 
 London
£266.40
 
 


 12/04/2005 
 Stornoway/Benbecula
£24.00
 
 


 06/05/2005 
 Glasgow
£9.40
 
 


 07-05-05-09-05-05
 London
£334.30
 
 


 08-05-05-09-05-05
 London
£343.50
 
 


 *12-05-2005
 London
£266.40
 
 


 16/05/2005 
 London
 
 Brussels
£971.60


 22-05-05-28-05-05
 
 
 Malawi
£3,474.88


 22-05-05-27-05-05
 
 
 Malawi
£3,398.58


 23-05-05-24-05-05
 London
£541.20
 
 


 24/05/2005 
 Aberdeen
£46.10
 
 


 *10-06-2005
 London
£306.10
 
 


 19/06/2005 
 London
£75.00
 
 


 19-06-05-20-06-05
 Cardiff
£219.10
 
 


 *22-06-2005
 Prestwick
£33.59
 
 


 *24-06-2005
 Prestwick
£38.00
 
 


 *27-06-05- 29-06-05
 Prestwick/Gleneagles
£123.79
 
 


 30/06/2005 
 London
£365.20
 
 


 *03-07-2005
 Gleneagles
£40.00
 
 


 *05-07-2005
 Prestwick
£38.00
 
 


 05/07/2005 
 Glasgow
£16.90
 
 


 06/07/2005 
 Gleneagles
£23.50
 
 


 07/07/2005 
 St Andrew’s
£23.50
 
 


 07/07/2005 
 St Andrew’s
£60.00
 
 


 07-07-05 to 08-07-05
 St Andrew’s
£112.80
 
 


 07/07/2005 
 St Andrew’s
£40.00
 
 


 *07-07-2005
 London
£155.80
 
 


 *08-07-2005
 Prestwick
£28.40
 
 


 *11-07-2005
 East Kilbride
£12.50
 
 


 *14-07-05 to 15-07-05
 Cardiff
£383.04
 
 


 19/07/2005 
 Glasgow
£28.30
 
 


 *21-07-05 to 22-07-05
 London
£141.60
 
 


 *22-07-2005
 London
£153.50
 
 


 *01-08-2005
 Inverness
£50.50
 
 


 *03-08-2005
 St Andrew’s
£68.80
 
 


 03/08/2005 
 Glasgow
£26.00
 
 


 03/08/2005 
 London
£339.30
 
 


 *03-08-05 to 04-08-05
 London
£387.90
 
 


 *04-08-2005
 Glasgow
£4.00
 
 


 *23-08-2005
 Glasgow
£6.00
 
 


 23-08-05-24 to 08-05
 St Andrew’s
£185.00
 
 


 23-08-05 to 24-08-05
 St Andrew’s
£190.00
 
 


 23-08-05 to 24-08-05
 St Andrew’s
£249.50
 
 


 23-08-05 to 24-08-05
 St Andrew’s
£190.00
 
 


 23-08-05 to 24-08-05
 St Andrew’s
£291.65
 
 


 *23-08-05 to 24-08-05
 St Andrew’s
£190.00
 
 


 25/08/2005 
 Glasgow
£26.00
 
 


 26/08/2005 
 Stirling
£40.80
 
 


 *31-08-05 to 01-09-05
 Aberdeen
£72.35
 
 


 01-09-05 to 02-09-05
 Glasgow
£93.00
 
 


 *03-09-2005
 Glasgow
£66.40
 
 


 05/09/2005 
 Aberdeen
£36.05
 
 


 *13-09-05 to 14-09-05
 Manchester
£594.86
 
 


 15-09-05 to 16-09-05
 Inverness
£146.90
 
 


 *15-09-05 to 16-09-05
 London
£535.90
 
 


 20/09/2005 
 London
£365.10
 
 


 *30-09-2005
 Glasgow
£23.00
 
 


 *30-09-2005
 Glasgow
£10.10
 
 


 *10-10-05 to 11-10-05
 Manchester
£657.44
 
 


 10-10-05 to 12-10-05
 Manchester and Dudley
£574.80
 
 


 *10-10-2005
 Dundee
£59.50
 
 


 10-10-05 to 11-10-05
 Manchester
£314.60
 
 


 11/10/2005 
 London
£284.80
 
 


 12-10-05 to 14-10-05
 Manchester
 
 Brussels
£1,043.81


 *20-10-2005
 London
£122.60
 
 


 23-10-05 to 29-10-05
 
 
 Canada and USA
£4,699.58


 23-10-05 to 29-10-05
 
 
 Canada and USA
£4,059.14


 31-10-05 to 01-11-05
 Tulliallan
£29.00
 
 


 31-10-05 to 01-11-05
 Glasgow and Tulliallan
£44.70
 
 


 01/11/2005 
 Tulliallan
£24.80
 
 


 02/11/2005 
 London
£19.70
 
 


 05-11-05 to 15-11-05
 
 
 India and China
£6,636.86


 06/11/2005 
 Inverurie
£5.00
 
 


 07/11/2005 
 Glasgow
£5.00
 
 


 *08-11-2005
 Glasgow
£4.00
 
 


 *09-11-2005
 Glasgow
£8.00
 
 


 10-11-05 to 13-11-05
 London
£298.10
 
 


 *18-11-2005
 London
£291.00
 
 


 20-11-05 to 22-11-05
 London
 
 Munich
£2,264.50


 21/11/2005 
 Perth
£18.10
 
 


 27/11/2005 
 London
£608.67
 
 


 27-11-05 to 29-11-05
 London
£276.30
 
 


 *02-12-2005
 London
£271.30
 
 


 03-12-05 to 06-12-05
 
 
 Montreal
£2,703.45


 04/12/05 to 06/12/05
 London
£301.20
 
 


 *05-12-2005
 Aberdeen
£77.50
 
 


 12/12/2005 
 Lerwick
£466.80
 
 


 13/12/2005 
 London
£412.90
 
 


 *16-12-2005
 London
£141.80
 
 


 19/12/2005 
 
 
 Brussels
£1,104.48



  The information above includes details of air, rail, hired cars, miscellaneous travel, subsistence and motor mileage costs claimed by special advisers in the period 1 April to 31 December 2005. Details about travel undertaken and the associated costs has been obtained from information held on the Scottish Executive Travel and Subsistence payments system and the Scottish Executive’s travel agent. Information for occasions where special advisers travelled without ministers being present for the period from 1999 up until 31 March 2005 is not available

  The expenditure set out in the table above excludes special advisers travel related costs incurred within Edinburgh or Glasgow if they are permanently based in either city.

Secretary of State for Scotland

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: I hope to meet the Secretary of State again soon.

Smoking

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions exist to ensure that staff and passengers on public transport will be protected by the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, particularly on modes of transport where the driver has responsibility for the vehicle and is the only member of staff in the enclosed driving space.

Lewis Macdonald: Transport operators will need to display "no-smoking" notices as required under the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Premises (Scotland) Regulations 2006. These must state that the vehicle is no-smoking; that it is an offence to smoke there or knowingly to permit smoking there, and name an individual to whom a complaint may be made if someone is observed smoking on the bus. This need not necessarily be the driver of the bus.

  A defence under the legislation is that the person took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence. In order to establish any "due diligence" defence in relation to their statutory obligations under the 2005 Act, transport operators would require to show that they had instituted systems for ensuring compliance and that they had put in place all necessary systems or procedures reasonably available to them. In relation therefore to the offence of permitting others to smoke on public transportation, transport operators could be required to show, for example, that they have procedures in place to remove passengers who refuse to stop smoking. They also need to satisfy themselves that any complaints made to the named person will be followed up and appropriate action taken. Complaints may also be made to a national compliance line which will operate when the legislation comes into effect on 26 March. All complaints will be followed up by the relevant Environmental Health Department, who will decide on the appropriate level of enforcement action to be taken.

Smoking

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on tobacco awareness campaigns in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has spent £750,000 including VAT in 2005-06 on the advertising campaign to raise public awareness about the smoke-free legislation which will be introduced on 26 March 2006.

Speed Limits

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15219 by Nicol Stephen on 20 June 2005, whether it will now make an order to lower the speed limit to 30 mph on the A95 at Cromdale.

Tavish Scott: The order cannot be made until the two objections referred to in the answer to question S2W-15219 have been properly addressed. Transport Scotland is currently seeking to resolve these objections as quickly as possible.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Speed Limits

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that the evaluation of the speeds of vehicles recorded travelling through Cromdale on the A95 between 8 and 15 August 2005, when a temporary speed limit of 30mph was applied, indicate that (a) the highest speeds recorded were in respect of a motorcycle travelling at 92 mph and of a car travelling at 85 mph and (b) 76% of the 24,804 vehicles whose speed was measured were in breach of the speed limit; when the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications became aware of these findings; whether he has made any order to reduce the speed of vehicles travelling through Cromdale, and, if not, whether he will introduce appropriate measures, including an order for a permanent speed limit of 30 mph.

Tavish Scott: I can confirm that the evaluation of the speeds of vehicles travelling through Cromdale on the A95 during the trial 30mph speed limit from 8 to 15 August 2005 is as stated in the question. I can also confirm that officials in the Scottish Executive (now Transport Scotland) received this information in September 2005 and are discussing with BEAR Scotland Ltd and the police the implications of this information, particularly in relation to the proposed speed limit and any appropriate supporting measures.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Tourism

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has provided to local authorities to attract more cruise liners to visit Scottish ports.

Patricia Ferguson: Cruise liners bring a significant number of visitors to particular areas of Scotland during the year. While no specific support is available to local authorities to help them attract cruise liners, VisitScotland is commissioning research which will assess both the market and the economic benefits of cruise tourism to Scotland. The findings from this research should be available by the middle of next year.

Voluntary Organisations

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people are now involved in volunteering as part of the National Youth Volunteering programme.

Malcolm Chisholm: The programme referred to by the member is Project Scotland. As of 24 February 2006 there were 400 Project Scotland Volunteers, an increase of 76 since my answer to Linda Fabiani’s question S2W-22379 on 24 January 2006, which also contains further information on Project Scotland. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Voluntary Organisations

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the recommendations of the Executive’s cross-department group on the voluntary sector will be in respect of new areas for service delivery in the voluntary sector.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive launched A Vision for the Voluntary Sector – the Next Phase of Our Relationship in December 2005. To help implement the Vision the Scottish Executive has committed to the setting up of a new Cross Department Group, which is currently being established. It is likely that the group will be tasked with a range of activities including, but not solely focusing on, enhancement of the sector’s role in the delivery of services. Once the group is established (it is due to meet for the time in spring 2006) it will identify the priority areas on which it will focus.

Voluntary Organisations

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Scottish Executive funding support for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations over the last five years is detailed in the table below. This does not include resources which SCVO distribute to other agencies on behalf of the Scottish Executive.

  

 Year
 Amount


 2005-06
£988,583


 2004-05
£2,751,054


 2003-04
£1,080,379


 2002-03
£609,726


 2001-02
£531,313

Voluntary Organisations

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support local voluntary organisations in the Highlands, given that no uplift in funding is being provided by the Highland Council.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive provides local voluntary organisations with support through a wide range of initiatives, including in the area covered by Highland Council. However, the majority of grant funding for local voluntary organisations is provided by local agencies, notably local authorities.

  Details of Scottish Executive grant funding to voluntary organisations in 2005-06 are shown in the answer I provided to the answer to question S2W 23342 on 28 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

  Funding decisions at the local level must primarily be for local funders, taking account of local priorities, local needs and the level of resources local authorities and others are prepared to release.

Young People

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that every young person in Scotland has access to either education or training.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is committed to providing young people in Scotland with access to world class education and training. Annual investment in our colleges and universities is at record levels and will rise to over £1.6 billion by 2007-08.

  This is supplemented by Government training programmes such as the Modern Apprenticeship programme which is open to everyone over the age of 16. The number of individuals on this programme has grown substantially since devolution and there are now over 34,000 modern apprentices. This shows a clear commitment to developing tomorrow’s skills today.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Allowances

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what additional staffing and hours have been allocated to the Allowances Office since the implementation of the new procedure for publishing detailed information of members’ allowances and expenses and the submission of expense claim forms.

Nora Radcliffe: Two additional temporary members of staff, working 35 hours per week, have been employed within the Allowances Office to assist with the preparation of information in advance of publishing allowance expenditure data for the first two quarters of the 2005-06 financial year. Support has also been provided, on an overtime basis, by two former members of Allowances Office staff now working in other offices of the SPCB. From October 2005 to date these former Allowances Office staff have worked 97 hrs 40 minutes while Allowances Office staff have worked 332 hours in overtime.

  In addition, one temporary member of staff has been employed, working 35 hours per week, to assist with the processing of travel and expenses claims following the introduction of the requirement to provide more detailed information when submitting travel claims.

Parliamentary Allowances

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the average number of hours worked per week is of staff employed in the Allowances Office.

Nora Radcliffe: From October 2005 to date, the average number of hours worked per week by Allowances Office staff has been 40 hours. Of those Allowances Office staff who have worked overtime during this period, the average hours worked per week has been 42 hours 30 minutes.

Parliamentary Allowances

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the average length of time for dealing with expense claims for staff and members has been in each year since 1999, including 2006.

Nora Radcliffe: A record of processing times is only available for the period 1 April 2003 to date. Records show that all correctly completed travel claim forms were processed within seven days of receipt. For those claims were additional information was required records show the following percentages of these claims were processed within 10 days of receipt:

  2003-04 - 96%;

  2004-05 - 94%, and

  2005-06 - 84%.

Parliamentary Allowances

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans are in place to improve the resources available to the Allowances Office to assist it to carry out its responsibilities efficiently.

Nora Radcliffe: The SPCB has established a Members and Officials Joint Working Group to review allowance processes and to make recommendations to the SPCB. The SPCB will consider any recommendations and, in that context, will consider future staffing levels within the Allowances Office